Is Tesla's Optimus robot autonomous, or is it teleoperated? Apparently, both.
The robot is able to walk without running into obstacles, but when interacting with people, pouring drinks and so forth, it is being operated by a remote human being.
Here's a very early reference, from The Ancient Brain, by A.G. Stangland, published by Science Wonder Stories in 1929:
One day I was running a test on the polonium that flowed into the repulsion tubes to determine its quality. Ron, a classmate, approached me. “William will you take my place for a while at the ‘auto’ controls. I have to see Professor Luch personally for a few moments.”
“All right, Ron.”
“Thanks, a lot.” I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men, doing various duties that could not be done very efficiently by automatic levers and relays. I sat before the mirror that represented the electric eye of the robot, and by various levers moved “No. 7” to take a look at the temperature of the electric furnace for repulsion tube No. 3. Everything was functioning perfectly. I continued to do routine work relative to the operation of the repulsion tube...
(Read more about the mechanical men)
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/25/2024)
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